The Louvre Museum experienced one of the most shocking incidents in its recent history this Sunday. A group of four professional thieves stole a set of jewels of “incalculable heritage and historical value” in just seven minutes, according to French authorities.
The theft forced the world’s most visited museum, which welcomed 8.7 million visitors last year, to close its doors for the entire day, affecting thousands of tourists.
The Interior Minister, Laurent Núñez, and the Culture Minister, Rachida Dati, arrived at the museum a few hours after the robbery to coordinate initial measures.
According to the Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, the incident occurred at around 09:30 local time. The group approached the museum from the southern side, by the Seine, using two motorcycles and a truck with a freight lift.
Using this equipment, they reached the first floor, specifically the Apollo Gallery, where two of the thieves forced a window with cutting discs. They then broke into two display cases, one showcasing diamonds and another containing Second Empire jewels.
The operation was quick, silent, and non-violent. Museum staff evacuated visitors calmly and efficiently, and no one was injured.
The Stolen Jewels
The thieves took eight main pieces from the Napoleonic collection:
- A diadem of Queen Maria Amelia and Queen Hortense.
- A sapphire necklace from the same set.
- An earring from the same collection.
- An emerald necklace of Queen Marie Louise.
- A pair of emerald earrings from the same queen.
- A brooch.
- A diadem of Empress Eugénie.
- Another brooch of Empress Eugénie de Montijo.
During their escape, the group lost the crown of Empress Eugénie, the Spanish wife of Emperor Napoleon III (1852–1870). The piece was recovered, although damaged, according to The Times.
The crown, containing 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, was created for the 1855 Universal Exhibition. After the fall of the Second Empire, the French state sold it in 1885 as a symbol of the end of the monarchy. Over a century later, a donation allowed it to return to the national heritage. No injuries were reported.
The Symbolic Value of the Crown Jewels
The stolen jewels belong to a collection that represents centuries of French history. According to the Louvre, the “Côte de Bretagne”, a spinel that belonged to Anne of Brittany, is one of the oldest gems preserved.
The museum also houses three historic diamonds: the Regent, the Sancy, and the Hortensia, which adorned crowns and royal garments. Among the most spectacular pieces are the emerald and diamond sets that belonged to Empress Marie Louise, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte.
As Minister Núñez reminded, “these jewels are valuable not only for their precious stones but because they tell our history.”
Criticism Over Louvre Security
Communist Senator Ian Brossat criticised the government for ignoring warnings from museum staff. On 16 June, employees staged a surprise strike to highlight the lack of security personnel.
According to Brossat, the Louvre’s workforce has shrunk by 200 staff over the past five years. “The Culture Minister seems to have only now realised the problem,” he said.
Minister Dati acknowledged that France has a heritage “so rich it has become a target for criminals” and reminded that the Louvre had requested a security audit from the Prefecture of Police.
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